Pisay changes admission process

The Philippine Science High School (Pisay) has implemented a change in its admission process for students due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, where physical entrance examinations have not yet been conducted.

Instead of the traditional National Competitive Examination (NCE), PSHS will use the Requirement for Admission, Criteria, and Evaluation (RACE) as the admission process for the school year 2021-2022.

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In the first stage of the process, the applicant’s predicted NCE grade will be taken. It is based on the final grades in Grade 5 Science and Math, and other variables, according to PSHS Executive Director Lilia Habacon.

“Ito pong plus other variables, ito po ‘yong mag-equalize, magle-level noon playing field. Kaya ‘yon pong predicted NCE grade, hindi po straightforward na final grade in Math at final grade ng Science,” explained Habacon.

“Halimbawa ‘yong kung galing sa public [o] private [school], kung ano ‘yong province mo. Actually mga characteristic ng schools,” she added.

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Instead of the exam, a written essay will be required of applicants who can enter the second stage of the admission process.

There are 1,800 quotas on 16 PSHS campuses, and 2,880 applicants will be invited for the second screening.

At the main campus in Quezon City, 384 applicants will be invited, but 240 will be the quota. The final score or the combined score is based on predicted NCE grade, rank, and essay.

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The top 240 applicants will be considered the main campus’s principal qualifiers, who will be allowed to choose whether they want to enroll in the main campus or the regional campus.

The remaining candidates will be ranked from highest to lowest based on the selected campus.

Meanwhile, the top 90 or 120, depending on the PSHS campus’s quota, are the principal qualifiers of the regional campuses.

Alternate qualifiers are those below 240th on the main campus and below 90th or 120th on regional campuses. They will be called in case the principal qualifiers reject the scholarship.

Pisay changes admission process

When more alternate qualifiers are needed, there will be another round of Stage 2 screening.

For eligible Grade 6 students who want to become “Pisay” scholars, visit nce.pshs.edu.ph for online application.

The entrance examination at PSHS, a public high school under the Department of Science and Technology that focuses on shaping students at science and math, is known for its competitiveness.

December 11 is the deadline for applicants from private schools, while December 18 is for public schools.

You can still submit a printed application form that can be taken to the nearest Pisay campus or regional Department of Science and Technology offices.

Those who passed in Stage 1 are expected to be released in February, while in April for Stage 2.

For the current school year 2020-2021, Pisay has 9,318 students.

Depending on the socio-economic status, a student is given up to a P4,000 stipend per month.

There is also a P300 per month communication allowance now that remote learning is being implemented.